Tourism Promotions Board Reaffirms the Philippines as a Top Dive Destination at Korea Underwater Sports Expo 2025 With PHP 125 Million in Sales Leads and Strong International Partnerships - Travel And Tour World (2025)

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) of the Philippines marked a successful milestone at the Korea Underwater Sports Expo (KUSPO) 2025, held from March 27 to 30 at the COEX Convention & Exhibition Center in Seoul, South Korea. During the event, the Philippines generated an impressive PHP 125,254,538.00 in sales leads, thanks to the active participation of its dive operators, liveaboards, and airline partners.

Leading the delegation, TPB brought together a group of top-tier dive industry players, including Aldive Resort, Kakay’s Maldito Beach Resort & Diving Shop, Bongo Bongo Divers, Sierra Madre Divers Dive Center, Atlantis Dive Resorts & Liveaboards, Casalay Boutique Villas & Dive Resort, Philippine Airlines, and Cebu Pacific Air. Together, the team attracted over 35,000 visitors to the Philippine booth, with business-to-consumer sales and strategic networking with 50 key Korean dive operators at the Dive Philippines Reception Night on March 28 yielding remarkable results.

The booth, themed ‘Beach, Dive, and Dine,’ was a vibrant hub that showcased the country’s premier dive destinations, including Cebu, Batangas, Puerto Galera, Bohol, and Negros Oriental. It served as a venue for industry professionals and dive enthusiasts to connect, reinforcing the Philippines’ reputation as a top dive destination within the Korean market. The booth also featured enticing travel deals, interactive games, raffles, and a taste of Kaulayaw Coffee’s Filipino Coffee Concoction. A standout moment was the insightful presentation on the country’s unrivaled diving experience, delivered by South Korean underwater photographer Jerome Kim, a passionate advocate of Dive Philippines.

“South Korea has always had a deep appreciation for the ocean and the experiences it offers. At KUSPO, we did not just promote destinations–we built connections with Korean travelers who seek meaning, thrill, and sustainability in their journeys,”said TPB Chief Operating Officer Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles.“The growing interest from the Korean market is both an affirmation of our world-class dive sites and a challenge to us to continue elevating standards, inclusivity, and environmental responsibility in every experience we offer.”

KUSPO 2025 comes at a crucial juncture for the Philippines’ dive tourism sector. In 2023, the sector contributed PHP 73 billion to the Philippine economy, almost doubling the PHP 37 billion recorded the previous year. With over 120 dive destinations in the country—many of which offer both adventure and ecological richness—the Philippines is capitalizing on the growing global demand for dive tourism. To support this rise in popularity, the Philippines is expanding its network of hyperbaric chambers in key dive locations like Boracay, Camiguin, Dumaguete, Puerto Galera, and Daanbantayan in Cebu.

South Korea remains the Philippines’ largest source of foreign tourists, with 1,569,071 South Koreans visiting in 2024. Recognizing the value of this market, TPB’s presence at KUSPO 2025 was a strategic initiative to strengthen ties with South Korean travelers who continue to seek high-value, immersive travel experiences. The successful outcome of the event highlights TPB’s commitment to advancing the Philippine dive tourism industry through sustained market engagement, public-private partnerships, and the promotion of emerging travel destinations.